Travel Guide: Dearborn Michigan Arabic Food Tour

July 24, 2018July 24, 2018

When I visit Dearborn I feel like I stepped back in time to my childhood days growing up in Amman, Jordan. Located in Wayne County, Michigan, this city is home to the largest Arab American population in the United States. The streets are lined with hundreds of Arab-owned businesses and restaurants serving authentic Middle Eastern food. It’s also home to the only Arab American museum in the nation, devoted to Arab culture and history.

A short three hour drive from Akron and Cleveland, we often take day or weekend trips to Dearborn. We like to take the kids to the museum and the restaurants for a little taste of home (literally and figuratively). My sister Nora, who helped me with my guide on how to shop a Middle Eastern market, has her Dearborn food itinerary down to a science. Here’s her guide to enjoying some of the best food this city has to offer:

Best Sandwich

Hamdio:What to order: shawrema sandwich, which is a lamb, beef or chicken in a toasted pita sandwich.

Best Traditional Breakfast

Al -Ajami: If you’ve never had a Middle Eastern breakfast, you’re in for the best treat of your life. It’s very rare to find a restaurant serving authentic Middle Eastern breakfast in the United States.What to order: A kettle of traditional tea, and one of everything as Arabic breakfasts consist of a large spread of small plates to share. Favorite dishes include eggs , fool (bean dish), hummus, homemade pies.